My new boiler journey: Researching sustainable options

Should I change my oil boiler?

Yes, it's old (20 years+), it smells, it's noisy, and it takes up a substantial amount of space but ultimately there is nothing wrong with it, it has never let us down. Why spend thousands of pounds on a new one now, especially at a time when we need every penny to pay for the oil and our electricity?

But on balance, I can see many benefits! Surely a modern boiler would cut my fuel bill, be kinder to the planet, free up some space in the house if external and cut down on the noise and smell! 

I am also becoming increasingly anxious about how I will heat my home in the future. The government are proposing that the replacement ban on oil boilers will come into effect only three years from now in 2026 as part of the Heat & Building Strategy. Like many, our property is simply not compatible with air source heat pumps, it's too old, too draughty, and too big for a logical, economical solution. On two occasions, heat pump engineers visited to assess the property they didn’t even need to walk through the door to tell me this!

So perhaps I should bite the bullet now, get a new boiler, one that could be converted to biofuels in the future and give myself peace of mind, that I’m better prepared for tomorrow. I concluded that now would be a good time to consider my options considering my three requirements:

1. Will it save me money to the extent it pays back within 5-10 years?
2. Can it be installed externally and free up some space, as well as remove noise and smell?
3. Will it reduce my carbon footprint today, and allow me to convert to HVO in future as the long-term solution for decarbonising our home?

So I started my search and through my local heating engineer, I was introduced to a Cambridgeshire business called EOGB. They've produced the recent award-winning Sapphire Boiler and have some impressive claims.  

• 17% reduction in fuel consumption
• 66% reduction in electrical consumption
• 90% reduction in emissions

Read more here: www.sapphireboilers.co.uk

It's fair to say this boiler appears to tick all the boxes, but its secret sauce is the efficiency it achieves as a result of its self-modulation and use of Opentherm technology. This means it will burn the right amount of fuel to create the heat needed for the area it's heating. Non-modulating boilers are either on or off, and less tailored to the space you are heating. Without the use of Openterm, the fuel output is constant and the associated fuel burn is much higher as a result. The boiler is also future-proofed, so if I wish to move to biofuels in the future, such as HVO, I can.  

This is starting to look promising, and my next step is to speak to my engineer, get a quote, work out my payback and make a decision.

I’ll keep you posted, no doubt many of you find yourselves with the same conundrums and so I hope this is of some use.

About The Author: Tim Buckman As the CEO of BoilerJuice, and a heating oil user himself, Tim understands the challenges that can come with having a home off the gas grid.  He loves helping customers save time and money with great tips and advice. He is currently on a journey to explore low-carbon heating options for off-the-gas grid homes to share his experience and help guide others through the process.